Review
Review
Alkaline Trio at O2 Forum Kentish Town, 16/07/24
Chicago’s resident kings of the apocalypse unleash a set of blood-soaked singalongs
In 2024, the world has perhaps never felt closer to the apocalyptic sonic wasteland Alkaline Trio have long traversed.
Almost three decades into their career, the Chicago punk legends have firmly established a penchant for darkness, death, and decay; their broodingly anthemic take on the scene resonating with weathered souls across the globe. With the release of their triumphant tenth studio album, Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs earlier this year, a planet consumed by chaos is seemingly where a band like Alkaline Trio thrives, and tonight they brought that energy back to UK shores.
Nonchalantly making their way onstage dressed in crisp black suits paired with Chuck Taylor All-Stars, latest album opener ‘Hot For Preacher’ kickstarted the evening with driving riffs and powerful gang vocals. Guitarist Matt Skiba and bassist Dan Andriano took turns on lead vocal duties whilst newly recruited sticksman Atom Willard kept rhythm in wickedly powerful style, from the moment the trio stepped onto stage they exuded a staggering confidence.
Big hitters ‘We’ve Had Enough’, ‘Calling All Skeletons’, and the darkly poetic ‘Mr. Chainsaw’ made early appearances in the set, newer cuts ‘Bad Time’ and Andriano-led ‘Versions Of You’ slotted perfectly into place. Each moment was met by roaring singalongs as crowd surfing bodies tested the security team’s abilities early on, and by the time the blood-pumping melodies of 1998 hit ‘Cringe’ took hold, both vocalists had the room eating out of their hands.
With Skiba remarking that it was the “perfect time to get out of the United States” before an all-too-fitting rendition of 2003 single ‘Armageddon’, over twenty years since their first London show at the legendary Astoria, right now the trio are arguably in their finest form. Assured and energised by their latest chapter, each era of their career was revisited here throughout the 80-minute set.
Andriano substituting the closing lines of ‘Crawl’ with a swift vocal cover of The Cure’s ‘Pictures Of You’ – unannounced to Skiba, who admits the song always makes him teary-eyed – it’s abundantly clear how much fun they’re having. Joking with one another and grinning as they scan the faces in the room, an explosively violent singalong of fan-favourite track ‘Radio’ brings the night to a close, bodies piling over the barrier one last time.
One of the finest punk outfits of their generation, there’s something remarkably special about seeing a band like Alkaline Trio so refreshed. As they approach three decades of sombre storytelling and sonic savagery, long may their blood-soaked reign continue.
Alkaline Trio continue their UK tour until the end of the month. Find Alkaline Trio tickets here
Read our interview with Matt Skiba here as he walks us back through his best and worst on-stage memories
